From November 27 to 29, 2025, companies, institutions and universities will meet in Bari to develop new strategies for promoting emerging skills and implementing advanced innovations to build an even more efficient and competitive manufacturing ecosystem.
At the third edition of MECSPE Bariabout 300 companies will gather in the 20,000 m² exhibition space of the Nuova Fiera del Levante.
The manufacturing sector, with its 493.440 active companies in Italy, represents a key asset for the development of the country’s entrepreneurial and socio-economic landscape.
During the three days of the event, conferences, live demonstrations, and initiatives will focus on training, innovation, and sustainability, themes considered central to the manufacturing of the future and to supporting the growth of the next generation of professionals and companies.
One of the highlights will be the opening ceremony, where the results of the new MECSPE Observatory on the Italian manufacturing industry will be presented.
This will provide an opportunity to explore the challenges of the digital and ecological transition and the strategic role of companies in Southern Italy, with contributions from leading representatives of the industrial and institutional sectors.
Centrality of training and new skills
The Education Hub 5.0, organized in collaboration with the ITS Cuccovillo Foundation and its technological partners, will offer students and young professionals an immersive experience through interactive labs, simulations, and hands-on activities focused on future skills, particularly in mechatronics and automation.
Politecnico di Bari will also play a strategic role, with a rich program of workshops and outreach activities aimed at strengthening the connection between academic research and industry, demonstrating how training is an essential foundation for preparing the next generation to master emerging technologies.
Alongside training, enabling technologies for industry will be a decisive focus, with the presence of Meditech 4.0, a key Competence Center for Southern Italy, and CETMA, hosting a workshop on cutting-edge technological frontiers.
Territorial industrial associations Confindustria and Confimi will also participate, highlighting a shared commitment to promoting a culture of innovation and technical training, strategic levers for the development of SMEs and for strengthening the dialogue between companies, young talents, and the research community.
The future of manufacturing also passes through the aerospace sector, a rapidly growing industry that will play a leading role at MECSPE Bari 2025. Puglia, which accounts for over 10% of the national sector, confirmsits position as a strategic hub for the space economy, thanks to the contribution of the Aeronautical Technology District (DTA) and local companies.
The focus will be on supply chains, sustainability, and skills development—factors that are driving the growth of a sector increasingly central to both the Italian and European economy, and which embody the vision of an innovative, competitive, and talent-attracting industry.
At the same time, reaffirming Bari’s role as a Mediterranean hub for manufacturing innovation, the event will open its doors to international markets, hosting official buyers delegations from Greece, Albania, Bosnia, Serbia and Turkey.
B2B meetings and matching activities will create new opportunities for collaboration and growth for Italian companies, strengthening dialogue with Southeast Europe and contributing to a more sustainable and competitive development.
«MECSPE Bari is a key milestone in our journey, as it highlights the excellence of Southern Italy and connects it with the entire national industrial landscape. Companies from all over Italy will be present at the fair, united by a shared commitment to innovate and grow» says Maruska Sabato, Project Manager of MECSPE.
«This edition aims to provide practical tools to navigate the ecological and digital transition, strengthen training and skills, and open up new opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
It is an event that looks to the future of manufacturing, aiming to build a more innovative, sustainable, and competitive ecosystem, capable of attracting young talent and leveraging emerging technologies, such as those driving the aerospace sector, which is becoming increasingly strategic for the country.»
MECSPE Bari confirms to be a reference point for training and technology in Southern Italy, an ecosystem where the intersection of academic knowledge, entrepreneurial experience, and process innovation generates value for the entire industrial system. It is a place where the next generation can find guidance, companies can stay up-to-date, and institutions can engage in dialogue, working together to shape the future of manufacturing.
[1] Movimprese Data – Unioncamere, 2nd Quarter of 2025.
